ODI cricket is considered a tough format of the game because the players need to have proper skills, ability to play as per match situation and try to better the opposition for 100 overs. The ODI format has evolved a lot in recent years. Earlier, teams considered 240-250 to be a safe score in this format, but in the modern era, even 300 is not safe.
The main reason behind it is that the batters have started to take more risks in this format. It was rare to see a player completing a century at a strike rate of 140 or more in ODIs before, but nowadays, batters have managed to complete a hundred in less than 50 balls.
In this article now, we will look at the two such batters in cricket history, who came out to bat after the 38th over in an innings and still managed to score a century.
1. Glenn Maxwell created a new ODI world record against the Netherlands
The Australia vs Netherlands match happened recently in the 2023 World Cup, where Glenn Maxwell set a new record for the fastest century in the tournament’s history. He took only 40 balls to complete his hundred. Maxwell came out to bat after 39 overs had ended in Australia’s innings.
The Big Show launched an all-out assault right from the word ‘go’ and ended up scoring 106 runs off 44 balls for the Australian team. He won the Man of the Match award for his ton.
2. AB de Villiers
Latest entry point of a batter who scored an ODI century:
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) October 25, 2023
39.0 overs – Glenn Maxwell🇦🇺 v NETH, today
38.4 overs – AB de Villiers🇿🇦 v WI, 2015#CWC2023 #AUSvNED pic.twitter.com/g1ZFe69WSS
AB de Villiers was the first batter to score a century in the 50-over format after entering to bat after the 38th over in an innings. The former South African captain achieved the feat against the West Indies in 2015, when he scored 149 runs off 44 balls in an innings.
